Australia’s international museum body accepts the invitation from First Nations Australians to establish a First Nations Voice to Parliament and welcomes it as a significant and necessary step for the nation.

ICOM Australia Statement on the Voice 3 Sept 2023

The International Council of Museums (ICOM) Australia accepts the invitation from First Nations Australians to establish a First Nations Voice to Parliament to be enshrined in the Australian Constitution.

ICOM Australia chair, Jessica Bridgfoot, said “Australian museums and galleries have been working with Indigenous communities for many years to improve engagement, develop trust and support self-determination and cultural revitalisation. It is time now to encourage all Australians to support this journey.

ICOM Australia will work to help museums to maintain the 65,000 years of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander continuous occupation, by encouraging community engagement, truth-telling, First Nations stories, exhibitions and voice in the museum sector. We encourage members and the Australian public to seek further information about The Voice by visiting the The Uluru Statement from The Heart and the YES23 websites to make their own informed decision to vote at the referendum on 14 October.”

You can read the full statement here: ICOM Australia Statement on the Voice 3 Sept 2023.

Background
ICOM is the largest international network of museum and heritage professionals, with more than 44,500 members around the world. ICOM Australia provides the international voice for over 650 Australian museum and gallery professionals and institutions and upholds international standards, conventions, and ethics. As the National Committee we work closely and support the Australian Museums and Galleries Association (AMaGA). You can read the AMaGA statement on The Voice here.

Contact:
Jessica Bridgfoot Chairperson ICOM Australia or Deanne Fitzgerald ICOM Australia Board member via email: info@icom.org.au